Lubricator



May 29, 1934. w. H. SHAW 1,960,715

LUBRICATOR Filed July 2, 1930 INVENTZ mamas! BY 2;

ATT RNE S Patented May 29, 1934 ."Arsnr IFFICE LUBRICATOR Application July 2, 1

10 Claims.

This invention relates to lubrioators and more especially to devices of this character for supplying lubricant to the cylinders of internal combustion engines.

An object of this invention is an improved, inexpensive and efficient lubricator for furnishing lubricant to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine and so designed that the sup-- ply of lubricant to the cylinders increases with the speed of the engine.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a section on the line 11 of Fig. 2, and 1 Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

A. glass container 10 or the like is supported from a head 11 by means of a metal casing 12 which surrounds the container and is fastened to the head by means of screws 12 This metal casing is provided with a thumb screw 13 to the upper end of which is attached a spring 14 which extends into a recess in the bottom of the con-- tainer 10. -The casing 12 is provided with a reinforcing plate 15 to which are attached mounting bolts 16. The head 11 comprises a casting having a central portion 17 in which is provided a cylindrical passage 18. This passage is closed at its lower end by a plug 19 and is provided With a screw threaded cap 20. The plug 19 is provided with a small central passage 21 which is arranged directly above a cup 22 provided in an extension 23 from the head 11. A passage 24 is provided in the extension 23 and leads from the cup 22 to a chamber 25 in which is provided a. ball check valve 26. The chamber 25 communicates through a transparent conduit 27 with a port 28 adapted to receive a fitting 29. A regulating screw 30 extends across the passage 24.

The cap 20 carries a wire 31 which extends through the passage 21. A passage 32 formed in the head 11 communicates with a Venturi passage 33 formed in the plug 19. A tube 34 has one end communicating with the Venturi passage 33 and the other end extending nearly to the bottom of the container 10. The Venturi passage 33 is arranged radially with respect to the passage 21 and wire 31. The chamber 18 communicates with the interior of the container through passages 35 formed in the central portion 17 of the head 11. An air cleaner 36 is provided at the entrance to the passage 32.

This device is connected to the intake mani- 930, Serial No. 465,334

fold of an engine by means of a pipe (not shown) which is attached to the device by means of the fitting 29. By means of this connection vacuum conditions corresponding to the vacuum conditions existing in the intake manifold of the engine are produced within the various passages and chambers of the device, thereby causing a stream of air to flow into the device through the passage 32 and Venturi passage 33. The flow of air through the Venturi passage 33 draws lubricant from the container 10 through the tube 34, thereby producing a stream of atomized oil and air which is directed across the upper end of the passage 21. When the air velocity through the Venturi passage is high, as at low engine speeds when high vacuum is produced in the intake manifold, the air stream carries most of the atomized oil through the passages 35 and back into the container 10. A certain amount of the atomized oil is dropped into the well provided at the upper end of the passage 21 and this oil flows by capillary attraction down the wire 31 into the cup 22.

When the velocity of the air stream through the Venturi passage is low as at high engine speeds, a much larger amount of oil is collected in the well at the top of the passage 21 and flows along the wire'31 into the cup 22. The oil collecting in the cup 22 is drawn up through the passage 24 and is delivered through the conduit 27 to the pipe leading to the intake manifold of the engine. The proportion of oil deposited in the well 21 is greater at low velocity of air stream through the Venturi passage 31 than at high velocity of such stream. The velocity of this stream is directly proportional to the vacuum conditions existing in the intake manifold and as this vacuum is higher at low speeds than at high speeds, the amount of oil collecting in the cup 22 is greater at high engine speeds than at low engine speeds. Therefore, the engine receives a greater amount of lubricant at high speeds than at low speeds, which condition is extremely desirable and not present in cylinder lubricators now on the market.

I claim:

1. In a lubricator for internal combustion engines, an oil reservoir, a chamber above said reservoir and in communication therewith, a cup below said chamber, a passage for conveying oil from said chamber to said cup, a Venturi passage leading into said chamber, a tube connecting with said passage and extending into said reservoir, and a passage leading from said cup, said last named passage being adapted to be connected to the intake manifold of the engine.

2. In a lubricator for internal combustion engines, an oil reservoir, a chamber arranged above said reservoir and communicating therewith, a cup below said chamber, a passage for delivering oil from said chamber to said cup, an air inlet for said chamber, a tube leading from said reservoir to said inlet, and an outlet passage leading from said cup and being adapted to be connected to the intake manifold of the engine.

3. In a lubricator for internal combustion engines, a reservoir, a chamber having a drainage passage, an air inlet for said chamber, a tube leading from said reservoir to said inlet, a cup to receive oil flowing through said drainage passage, and a passage leading from said cup, said last named passage being adapted for connection to the intake manifold of the engine.

4. In a lubricator for internal combustion engines, means for utilizing the engine vacuum to produce a stream of atomized oil, a chamber through which said stream is caused to pass, a drainage passage from said chamber, a cup to receive oil escaping through said drainage passage, and means for utilizing the engine vacuum to deliver the oil thus collected to the engine.

5. In a lubricator for internal combustion engines, means for utilizing the engine vacuum to produce a stream of oil laden'air, a chamber through which said stream is passed, a drainage passage from said chamber, and means for utilizing the engine vacuum to deliver to the engine oil escaping from said stream and flowing through said drainage passage.

6. In a lubricator for internal combustion engines, a chamber having a drainage orifice, means to project an oil laden air stream across the upper end of the orifice, means for collecting oil escaping from said stream and draining through said orifice, a separating compartment through which said stream flows at reduced velocity and wherein oil is separated from the air stream, and means for utilizing the air stream to deliver the collected oil to the engine whereby the amount of oil delivered to the engine varies inversely to the degree of engine vacuum.

7. In a lubricator for internal combustion engines, a chamber having a drainage orifice, means for utilizing the engine vacuum to draw a stream of oil laden air through said chamber over said orifice, means for collecting oil escaping from said stream and draining through said orifice, and means for utilizing the engine vacuum to deliver to the engine the collected oil.

8. In a lubricator for internal combustion engines, a chamber having a vertical drainage orifice, means for utilizing the engine vacuum to produce a stream of oil laden air passing through said chamber over said orifice, means for collecting oil escaping from said stream and draining through said orifice, a separating compartment through which said stream flows at reduced velocity and wherein oil is separated from the air stream, and means for utilizing the air stream to deliver the collected oil to the engine whereby the amount of oil delivered to the engine varies inversely to the engine vacuum.

9. In a lubricator for internal combustion engines, a chamber having a vertical drainage orifice, means forutilizing the engine vacuum for drawing a stream of air through said chamber across said orifice, means for injecting oil into said stream, means for collecting oil escaping from said stream and draining through said orifice, a separating compartment through which said stream flows at reduced velocity and wherein oil is separated from the stream, and means for utilizing the air stream to deliver the collected oil to the engine, whereby the amount of oil delivered to the engine varies inversely to the engine vacuum.

10. In a lubricator for internal combustion engines, an oil reservoir, a chamber having a drainage orifice, means for utilizing the engine vacuum for drawing a stream of air through said chamber across said orifice, a pipe for delivering oil from said reservoir to said air stream prior to its introduction into said chambenmeans for collecting oilescaping from said stream in said chamber and draining through said orifice, an air passage from said chamber-to said reservoir, and a passageway leading from said collecting means and through which said air stream is drawn to deliver the collected oil to the engine.

WILLIAM H. SHAW. 

